India - My India - A study in contrast-1

As I landed in Delhi, the power center on India, I had expected a gleaming edifice erected to usher in the international travelers from all round the globe.
What I had not expected was the chaos outside - the opposite of all that sterile and gleaming inside. Traffic - well, the less said the better ! It was like being a lonely little fish swimming in a river filled with piranha. We did manage to reach our destination without a single scratch. A trip to Karol bagh was an eye opener. How, with one of the largest populations in the world, we as a country still manage to retain our sanity. A ride in the Metro would have been entirely remiss - hence off we trudged off. I am pretty sure the NY metro would have been entirely overwhelmed by the simple numbers - and I don't believe NY metro manages to scan each and every baggage !
India - a place where the abject poor share living space with the filthy rich. And no, I am not talking in a phrase. I am talking literally, where a peep outside a storied apartment shows a stark reality. People whose entire day's meal consists of rice and a handful of potatoes.
India - where we pay more for petrol than those in the US, where a single cherry fruit costs r 10($0.20).
Welcome to my India !

NY and Ratha Yatra

The weather was perfect, from the high 90's of the day before, to a cooler weather and light rain. The stage was set, one of New York's most famous avenues, the 5th Avenue, ending in the Washington Square Park. The procession was magnificent, with three beautifully decorated "Raths" and followed by a huge procession of devotees from all races and different parts of US.

And so was held the 2011 Rath Yatra in New York. It is really true that devotion transcends races and cultures. A person of African descent beating the cymbals and chanting , a Swami of American descent leading the procession, persons of all races inter-mingling and adding sweet chorus; and New Yorkers providing a surprised audience. A lady from the crowd asked me whether the procession was to honour the Dalai Lama. I explained to her about Lord Jagannath, Hindu festivals and the "Rath Yatra". Well, I hope she understood something, was quite a bit of knowledge for 5 mins !! Having the delicious prasad with friends on the NY road side is an altogether different experience.

We take it for granted any festival in India, but staying outside makes the same festival extra special!

P.S: I announce a new photo blog : nilamadhaba.blogspot.com

India and the caste system

ataù pumbhir dvija-çreñöhä

varëäçrama-vibhägaçaù

svanuñöhitasya dharmasya

saàsiddhir hari-toñaëam

The above verse, taken from 13th verse of 1st Canto of the Srimad Bhagvatam, explains the actual caste system as it was originally envisioned. The society was supposed to be divided into four classes based on occupation, the intelligent, martial, productive and labourer caste. The main aim of such a division was to regulate the society and thereby improve it. At no point of time was it suggested that this system be hereditary. A person, born in whichever family, could easily rise up in society depending on his behaviour, skills and job occupation. Unfortunately, men, especially those in power, have a propensity of twisting words for their own benefit.

We, thus, ended with a lopsided view of the caste men, with people from "higher"castes thinking they have a hereditary right to rule.

In fact, the former view is accentuated by the dialogue between Manu and Kardama Muni and given in the 3rd canto of the Srimad Bhagvatam. It is explained how the role of a king was to protect his kingdom and his people and help them in spiritual advancement. It also explains the Varnashrama and how this was supposed to lead society on a path of peace and spiritual advancement. The word arya refers to this class of society, which was at one time spiritually advanced. This society, even in the ancient times, was referred to as the Aryans. This can be seen even in the Chaitanya Charitamruta. Contrary to popular "history", Aryans are not a race of people who "took over" India in the past, but a real part of our cultural history.

Gradually, over time, this society of Aryans has degenerated into the society that we have today. India, with its long history of conquests from outside especially in the last few centuries, has mixed and mingled these concepts far beyond recognition. And then came the British. What the Mughals could not achieve in 300 years, they achieved in less than a century. They effectively erased the glorious past of India, twisted the morals of an entire nation; and replaced it with their own version of history portraying India as a nation with a subjugated and divided past.

Remember the British and remember the phrase; The victorious re-write the history of those they rule.

New Year, New Beginings

Time comes and flows by. Like the shifting sands on the sea shore, they are ever changing, never constant. For me, personally, a new year is a time for nostalgia for old things gone by, and may be some trepidation, for new things yet to come.

Nostalgia for good moments gone by. One song always comes to my mind.. purani jeans, aur woh guitar….

Whatever we do, wherever we go, good friends are always hard to come by. The best friendships are those that were forged in the innocent times of childhood. A time when profit and loss relationships did not make any sense. A time , when the criteria for being a friend was a person to share your joys with and a shoulder to cry out the bad times.

As we grow up, old friendships grow older, some die a natural death, while some wither for lack of attention.

Friendships are like watering plants. The more we nurture them, the more they mature into beautiful blooms. And the best part is, good friendships, like blooming plants, are selfless.

We go on with life, forge our own paths ahead, but sometimes neglect to keep lines open with our friends who were a part of our lives at one point of time.